His Holiness Reaches Thousands During his February Teachings

By Casey Tait / March 7, 2019;

Photo: OHHDL

His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama ended his schedule for February with teachings on Je Tsongkhapa’s Concise Stages of the Path and In Praise of Dependent of Origination at a teleconference for Mongolian Buddhists.

There was a range of events from the end of January through to the end of February in Dharamshala, his home in exile. The talks included a meeting with young Indian scholars on January 24; an interaction with students from Israel and the United States on January 28; a conversation with the Young Ficci Ladies Organisation – an Indian organisation for young women from diverse professional and entrepreneurial backgrounds – on February 18; an Observation of the Day of Miracles on February 19; a Transmission of Bhavaviveka’s Essence of the Middle Way and a Manjushri Permission on February 20- 23 and a Long Life Offering Ceremony led by Professor Samdong Rinpoche at the Tsuklakhang temple in Dharamshala on February 27.

His Holiness said at the meeting with the YFLO, “We are now in the 21st century. If we look back at the 20th century, it was a time of violence and fear. Therefore, we should make this century an era of non-violence and compassion.”

Photo: OHHDL

The Dalai Lama has mentioned during his talks that he will be slowing his schedule in the coming year, as he ages and travel becomes a more difficult task, saying, “I asked if they would prefer the Dalai Lama to live a long life with fewer engagements or a very active but short life?”

Throughout the talks, His Holiness was clear in stating the benefits of an inclusive use of Buddhism beyond religion, and stressed the importance of secular ethics, concluding his talk at the Long Life Offering Ceremony on February 27 by stating: “The future of humanity depends on the adoption of a positive mental attitude by the current generation. The ancient Indian tradition offers instruments to tackle the emotional crisis and promote basic inner qualities. If such knowledge is educated to our youths and emulated in the largest populations like China and India, this could ensure a happier and more peaceful world.”